For the first time in decades -- and in some places, ever -- residents of the Warm Springs Reservation's most remote corners have access to public transportation. Bus Route 21, a new grant-funded transit line, launched on May 5, 2026, connecting Madras to Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort and the remote community of Simnasho deep within the roughly 1,000-square-mile reservation.
The route is operated as a 15-month pilot program and fills a critical gap in transportation for tribal members who have long lacked access to reliable public transit for medical appointments, employment, and daily needs.
A Long-Awaited Connection
"It's definitely an uplifting internal feeling," said Delson Suppah Sr., an elder and member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, who called the service long overdue. A bus already connected Warm Springs and Madras, but communities east of U.S. Highway 26 -- including Simnasho -- had remained out of reach.
Bus driver Chris Ulibarri described the new route as one of the most scenic he has driven. "To be honest, this is like one of the most beautiful routes I've got," Ulibarri said, after dropping a passenger with a bike in Simnasho on the route's first day. Wide grassy flats, rocky promontories, canyon roads, and views of the snow-capped Cascades make the journey unlike any other in Central Oregon transit.
Access to Kah-Nee-Ta and Medical Services
The new route also gives tribal members and visitors a way to reach Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort, which reopened in 2024, via public transit for the first time. Advocates note that access to medical services is another major benefit, with residents in Simnasho previously facing significant barriers to reaching healthcare in Madras or The Dalles.
Jefferson County Budget Adds Sheriff's Officer
In related Jefferson County news, the county's proposed budget for the coming year includes funding for a new sheriff's deputy -- a move welcomed by Sheriff Jason Pollock, who acknowledged that staffing challenges remain one of the biggest hurdles in public safety. "Like many agencies across Oregon and the nation, staffing remains one of the greatest challenges in public safety," Pollock said. "That said, our employees continue to do an outstanding job under demanding conditions."
The budget message from county budget officer Kelly Simmelink and county administrative officer Jeff Rasmussen said the proposed budget "advances Jefferson County's core priorities while navigating a multi-year plan to restore General Fund structural balance."
The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to meet May 13 at 8:15 a.m. to continue work on county business.